Kumar Prabhat
Dumka
In a major blow to Jharkhand’s power infrastructure development, electrical equipment worth nearly Rs 20 crore has allegedly been stolen from the under-construction Shikaripada grid substation in Dumka district before the facility could be commissioned. The incident has also raised serious questions over the security of critical public infrastructure, with no First Information Report (FIR) registered so far despite the magnitude of the theft.
The state-of-the-art grid substation, located at Kalipathar village under Pinargadhiya Panchayat, about 25 km from Shikaripada police station, was built under the Jharkhand Power Improvement System Program at an estimated cost of Rs 39 crore. The project was launched on November 30, 2017, to strengthen power transmission infrastructure in Shikaripada, Amrapara and Jarumundi.
According to preliminary information, thieves made away with valuable equipment, including copper windings from two 50 MVA transformers worth around Rs 12 crore, high-tension cables valued at Rs 2.5 crore, ten control panels worth Rs 2.8 crore, besides Current Transformers (CTs), Potential Transformers (PTs), steel structures, and even doors and windows.
The theft has exposed serious lapses in project management and security. Sources said the grid was taken over by Jharkhand Urja Sancharan Nigam Limited (JUSNL) on March 19, 2021, before mandatory charging, testing and trial runs were completed. Under standard practice, the construction agency is responsible for safeguarding the facility for one year after commissioning.
However, after taking premature possession, JUSNL allegedly failed to deploy security personnel or establish regular maintenance at the remote site, leaving it vulnerable to theft. The delay in filing a police complaint has further intensified allegations of negligence and possible collusion, prompting demands for a high-level investigation into one of the biggest thefts reported from the state’s power sector.
